Gastroprotective Effects of Paeonia Extract Mixture HT074 against Experimental Gastric Ulcers in Rats

Abstract

Background. Paeonia extract mixture HT074 is a standardized multiherbal mixture comprising extracts from Inula britannica flowers and Paeonia lactiflora roots, which are used to treat digestive disorders in traditional Korean medicine. This study was focused on elucidating the underlying mechanisms of the gastroprotective effects of HT074 in different gastric ulcer models. Methods. Gastric lesions were induced in rats by an HCl/EtOH solution, water immersion-restraint stress (WIRS), and indomethacin. Gastric secretions were studied in pylorus-ligated rats, while mucus secretions were assessed by measuring alcian blue-binding capacity of mucus in the rat model of HCl/EtOH-induced gastric ulcer. Additionally, the involvement of nitric oxide (NO) and sulfhydryl compounds in HT074-mediated mucosal protection was elucidated using their inhibitors, i.e., NG-nitro- L-arginine methyl ester hydrochloride (L-NAME) and N-ethylmaleimide (NEM), respectively. Furthermore, the effects on indomethacin-induced cell death and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) levels were assessed in AGS cells. Results. Oral administration of HT074 significantly decreased gastric lesions induced by HCl/EtOH, WIRS, and indomethacin. Furthermore, it significantly decreased the volume, acidity, and total acidity of gastric juice in pylorus-ligated rats and increased the alcian blue-stained gastric mucus in HCl/EtOH-induced gastric ulcer in rats. Pretreatment with NEM abolished the gastroprotective effects of HT074, while L-NAME did not. In AGS cells, HT074 significantly reduced indomethacin-induced cell death and increased the PGE2 levels. Conclusions. These findings suggest that HT074 has gastroprotective effects against various ulcerogens, including HCl/EtOH, immersion stress, and NSAIDs. These effects are attributed to the inhibition of gastric secretions and preservation of the gastric mucosal barrier by increased mucus production, which is partially mediated through endogenous sulfhydryl compounds and PGE2. Based on these findings, we propose that HT074 may be a promising therapeutic agent for gastritis and gastric ulcer.

Study of the Potential Antiulcerous Action of Hydroalcoholic Extracts From Prunella Vulgaris L. Of Romanian Origin

“…Kim YS et al used the various agents inducing ulcersethanol/hydrochloric acid, NSAIDs, acute stress (water immersion-restraint stress-induced gastric lesion) to elucidate the effect of phenols of plant origin (paeoniflorin, albiflorin and paeonol). The authors concluded that plant phenolic compounds work primarily by increasing the secretion of prostaglandin-related mucus formation as the first line of defence, in the absence of a consistent anti-secretory effect, as in our case [28]. The involvement of prostaglandins as substances promoting mucus formation was highlighted by these authors by assessment of the reduction in death induced by indomethacin in AGS cells (human epithelial gastric cell line); at the same time, a gastroprotective effect dependent on endogenous sulfhydryl groups was observed, but independent of the formation of nitric oxide (NO) via NO-synthetase, a mechanism attributed to plant polyphenols by other researchers [18].…”

“…There are currently few studies on the antiulcer action of flavonoids (luteolin, hyperoside) [4,16] polyphenols (paeniflorine, albiflorine), and phenolcarboxylic acids (chlorogenic acid, caffeic acid, rosmarinic acid) [3,43,56]. To quantify these effects on the decrease in gastric secretion and the increase in defence factors (endogenous prostaglandins), numerous studies have evaluated extracts standardized in phytocompounds [28]; thus, various methods of producing experimental ulcers have been developed -by ligation of the pylorus, by administration of reserpine, indomethacin or HCl/ethyl alcohol or by induction of stress ulcer; in all cases, the experimental animal used is preferably the rat. The present study aims to evaluate the antiulcerous potential of the hydroalcoholic extract of the spiciform inflorescence of the species Prunella vulgaris L. due to the high content of active ingredients [5,32,39,40,[45][46][47]52].…”

Antiulcerogenic Activity of Li-Zhong Decoction on Duodenal Ulcers Induced by Indomethacin in Rats: Involvement of TLR-2/MyD88 Signaling Pathway

“…To investigate the protective effect of LZD on gastrointestinal tract, a IND-induced duodenal ulcer model in rats was established, which is commonly and classically used in the search for gastroprotective natural medicines [27,28]. IND causes the duodenal damage by suppressing the prostaglandin biosynthesis, decreasing the mucus production, and reducing the blood circulation within the mucosa [29,30]. Acute exposure of the duodenal mucosa of rats to IND results in severe lesions similar to those emerging in patients with duodenal ulcers.…”

A Retrospective Trial Exploring Erzhu Yiren Decoction in Gastric Ulcer with Spleen Deficiency and Dampness-Heat

“…(4) QOUH [21]: after treatment, the mucosal changes at the ulcer were observed under the endoscope, to evaluate the maturity of the regenerated mucosa. Two mucosal tissues were taken from the center of the scar for hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining, and routine pathological observation was performed to evaluate the histological maturity of the regenerated mucosa 2.5.…”